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De Villiers impressed with mature Warner

South Africa skipper AB de Villiers says David Warner has matured a lot, as shown by the Australian captaining his side to Indian Premier League glory.

David Warner
South Africa skipper AB de Villiers says David Warner (pic) has matured a lot. (AAP)

David Warner's transformation from problem child to polished vice-captain has impressed a lot of people in Australia.

Plenty of others around the world have also started to take notice, especially after Warner helped deliver the Indian Premier League title to Sunrisers Hyderabad.

That list includes South Africa skipper AB de Villiers, who Warner all but accused of ball tampering after a Test in 2014.

"I've got a lot of respect for him as a cricketer and the way he's played over the past few seasons," de Villiers said in Guyana, where Australia, West Indies and the Proteas will feature in June's ODI tri-series.

"He's matured a lot. He showed that captaining an inexperienced Sunrisers team and winning the tournament. Lots of credit has to go to him."

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Warner's side defeated a star-studded Royal Challengers Bangalore in last Sunday's IPL decider, trumping de Villiers, Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle and Shane Watson, among others.

Warner, who scored 848 runs in the IPL, says the tournament win was emotional, overwhelming and a source of pride.

"I was able to put the guys in the right direction and have them buy into the way we wanted to play," the opener said.

"I always knew I had the ability to try and lead from the front.

"Taking a team to a trophy is always going to be up there (among career highlights). It's a fantastic achievement."

Warner has had scant time to soak up the success.

The 29-year-old arrived in Georgetown on Wednesday and trained on Thursday, insisting he is feeling mentally fresh and vowing to improve in the ODI series.

"You always feel that you can go a step better," Warner said.

"That's what I'm setting out here to try and achieve - to get our team off to a great start and bat 50 overs.

"I'll still be going out at it the way I always do ... batting with intent."

Warner was unwilling to discuss the prospect of captaining his country for the first time, which will happen in June if Steve Smith is rested or suffers an injury.

"I'm under Steven and he's the captain. He's the best person to do that job and he's been assigned that job," Warner said.

"That's for us to totally respect and I'm hoping he never gets injured."


3 min read

Published

Source: AAP



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